UNC Police: General Order 08-01R2 - Investigative Section: Establishment and Organization

Title

UNC Police: General Order 08-01R2 - Investigative Section: Establishment and Organization

Document Information

Purpose

To provide for the establishment of the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) and to specify those positions responsible for the investigative function.

Policy

CID provides around-the-clock investigative coverage and commitment to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) Police Department. CID is responsible for conducting detailed and thorough investigations of all incidents that warrant criminal investigation, per General Order (G.O.) 08-03: Assignment and Documentation of Criminal Investigations.

Units Affected

UNC-CH Police Department Sworn Personnel.

References/Forms

• UNC-CH Police Department General Order 08-03: Assignment and Documentation of Criminal Investigations
• UNC-CH Police Department Standard Operating Procedure 2020-0022: Juvenile Investigations Procedure

Definitions and Descriptions

Criminal Investigations Division (CID): A work unit that consist of one supervisor and four investigators.

Procedures

I. Duties and Responsibilities of Investigative Section Personnel

A. Investigative Supervisor

1. Serves as the senior investigator for the department;
2. Supervises personnel assigned to the CID;
3. Reviews all incident and investigation reports to determine when criminal investigations are conducted;
4. Assigns all criminal investigations and tracks case assignments, whether the cases are assigned to an investigator or a patrol officer;
5. Serves as the secondary evidence custodian that supervises the department’s designated evidence manager;
6. Prepares the section budget;
7. Creates and coordinates the selection process for investigator positions;
8. Establishes evaluation criteria for investigators on a yearly basis;
9. Assigns and recommends personnel training needs;
10. Establishes work plans and evaluates subordinates' job performance;
11. Assesses section productivity;
12. Oversees any required discipline processes;
13. Attends University-related meetings that affect the operation of UNC-CH Police Department and cases being investigated;
14. Coordinates investigative operations with other agencies; and
15. Other duties as assigned by the support services commander and the Chief of Police.

B. Investigator

1. Conducts assigned investigations and makes routine work decisions independently;
2. Responds with patrol units on the initial call in cases of reported homicide, rape, armed robbery, and aggravated assault;
3. Responds on the initial call in those situations suggesting a plainclothes unit is appropriate, or as directed;
4. Interviews witnesses, victims, and defendants;
5. Collects evidence and maintains a chain of custody record;
6. Coordinates investigative operations with other agencies;
7. Conducts assigned background investigations on applicants for positions within the UNC-CH Police department;
8. Assists prosecuting attorneys in preparation of cases for court; and
9. Other duties as assigned by the CID supervisor.

II. On Call Investigator Schedule

1. Provides coverage after regular working hours, on weekends, and on holidays.
2. Each investigator is assigned, on an alternating basis, to one week of on-call duty at a time (beginning and ending at 6:00 on Monday mornings).
3. The on-call schedule is furnished to the communications center from the CID supervisor.
4. The supervisor on duty is responsible for calling the on-call investigator, unless the on-duty supervisor requests that UNC-CH Police Department Communications do so instead.
   1. Refer to Standard Operating Procedure 2020-0022: Juvenile Investigation Procedures.
5. The on-call investigator is called in on cases of serious misdemeanors and felonies as needed; however, routine processing of arrested individuals should be conducted by the patrol shift on duty.
6. In the event that the supervisor on duty cannot make contact by telephone with the on-call investigator, the supervisor on duty or UNC-CH Police Department Communications must contact any criminal division investigator, unless given prior notice by the CID supervisor that an investigator is not available.
7. If a specific investigator is requested, approval must be obtained from either the on-call investigator or the criminal investigations supervisor.
8. In addition to the on-call supervisor, the supervisor on duty or UNC-CH Police Department Communications must notify the investigative supervisor for all major felonies.
9. Attempts to contact the on-call investigator must be documented in an incident report and by UNC-CH Police Department Communications based on information provided by the supervisor on duty.